Story guided tour information
Tour to Experience the Story of Japan heritage in Esashi
True to the title of the story, “Even Edo is not as busy as Esashi in May - The town made prosperous by herring,” Esashi thrived through herring fishing and the trade of herring products. Its rich history and culture remain alive. Esashi is home to numerous cultural assets that tell the story of its remarkable prosperity.<br>On this tour, knowledgeable local guides, who have undergone specialized training to showcase the Japan Heritage in Esashi, will fully show you the charms of them. This tour goes beyond simply visiting cultural assets—it offers an experience that allows you to feel and empathize with the town’s rich history through engaging stories and anecdotes tied to each cultural asset in Esashi. As part of the experience of new sightseeing, you can also enjoy a fun and interactive quiz rally along the Japan Heritage exploration course, blending discovery with a playful twist.<br>Dive into the proud story of Esashi, immerse yourself in its vibrant history and culture, and create unforgettable memories on this unique and enriching tour.
For those participating as a tour guide
This tour consists of three courses. Regarding the content of the tour guide, it is possible to visit all the courses or a part of any of the courses, depending on the customer's request. If you are applying to be a tour guide, please let us know which course you would like to visit when you apply.
Course A “Inishie Kaido” ~Chapter 1 Prosperity left behind in the townscape~
<Course> Approximate time required: 65 minutes
- START
- 1.Esashi Town Meeting Hall (March 2025 ~ Guidance facility)[15 minutes]
- 2.The Former Hiyama Nishi Subprefectual Hall [15 minutes]
- 3.The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House [10 minutes]
- 4.Inishie Kaido[15 minutes]
- 5.The Yokoyama House[5 minutes]
- 6.Ubagami Shrine[5 minutes]
*The order of tours is just an example.
Prosperity left behind in the townscape
Esashi’s Historic Town is nestled neatly along the coastline.
Within it is Ubagami Shrine. The shrine was built by Esashi’s townspeople to honor the statue of a god and to hold festivals. The statue belonged to Ori, a mythical figure said to have brought herring to Esashi.
Esashi was largely built by merchants from the main island of Honshu who came for the herring trade in the 18th-19th centuries.
Two notable examples of this are The Yokoyama House which was built by merchants from Ishikawa pref. in the 18th century, and The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House that was built by merchants from Shiga pref. in the 19th century. The trademarks of these merchants were displayed from the facades of their shops/warehouses and are still visible today.
Take a walk along The Historic Town and you can still experience the echoes of Esashi’s prosperous past.
B course "Esashi Oiwake and floats"
Estimated time required: 70 minutes
Esashi Oiwake Museum/Esashi Yama Museum Go around in the following order
- START
- 1. Facility introduction [10 minutes]
- 2.Folk performing arts corner [20 minutes]
- 3. Esashi Oiwake score [10 minutes]
- 4. Esashi Yama Museum [25 minutes]
- 5. Closing [5 minutes]
*The order of tours is just an example.
Chapter 2 Nurturing and Displaying Culture
As Esashi flourished, people came from around the country via the northern trade routes, bringing with them various cultural customs. Esashi's townsfolk adapted these customs to suit their local environment, creating something entirely unique.
One example is a folk song inherited from the 18th century, Esashi Oiwake. Originating with horse drivers from Nagano Pref. it came to Esashi by land and sea. Once here, the lyrics were changed to reflect Esashi's winds and waves, ensuring it endures to this day.
The Ubagami Togyo Festival takes place in August using portable shrines and floats from the 18th century. It is held to pray for bountiful seas.
Folk performances like Esashi Okiageondo pass on the passion of herring fishing.
C course "Kamome Island"
<Course> Approximate time required: 80 minutes
- START
- 1. Kamome Island entrance [5 minutes]
- 2.Heishi Rock [10 minutes]
- 3.Remains of Merchant Ship Mooring[15 minutes]
- 4.Remains of Stairs Up Kamome Island[10 minutes]
- 5.The Remains of the Banquet Site[10 minutes]
- 6.Itsukushima's Temizuya,Stone Tori Gate[10 minutes]
- 7.Kaiyomaru Museum[20 minutes]
*The order of tours is just an example.
Chapter 3 The Island that Birthed Prosperity
According to legend, an old woman called Ori was given a bottle filled with water by the gods. She poured the water into the sea at Kamome Island causing herring to come to Esashi in great numbers. Later, she threw the bottle in too, creating Heishi Rock.The herring that Ori brought to Esashi led to immense prosperity.
As trade of herring and herring products increased, scores of people came to Esashi along the northern trade routes. They moored their ships behind Kamome Island to protect themselves from raging seas leaving deep holes in the island’s cliff face.
The crews of these ships would climb steps up the island to pray for a safe voyage at Itsukushima Shrine. Along with the townsfolk, they built food stalls and enjoyed banquets while listening to Esashi Oiwake. The Remains of Merchant Ship Mooring, Itsukushima Shrine, The Remains of Stairs Up Kamome Island, and The Remains of the Banquet Site can all be seen on Kamome Island.
Guide fee
In addition to the basic fee, the guide fee will be the sum of facility admission fees for the facilities included in the customer's desired course.
<Basic price>
Basic fee | Additional fee (for 3 or more people) |
---|---|
2000 yen (tax included) for 1 to 2 people | +1,000 yen for each additional person |
*21 people ~ 1 bus 20,000 yen (tax included)
*No matter what course you choose, the basic fee will be the same.
<Facility admission fee>
Guide course | Facility name | Adult price | Elementary, middle and high school fees |
---|---|---|---|
Course A | The Former Hiyama Nishi Subprefectual Hall *1 | 300 yen *2 | 100 yen *2 |
Course A | The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House *1 | 300 yen *2 | 100 yen *2 |
Course B | Esashi Oiwake Museum/Esashi Yama Museum | 500 yen *3 | 250 yen *3 |
*1 500 yen for adults, 250 yen for primary / secondary / high school students
*2 10% off for a group with 15 people or more
*3 Free admission for Esashi citizen
*Please apply by phone from the link or by email after filling out the consultation form.
Tourist guide
Highlights of Esashi Town walking experience
Regardless of the itinerary you choose, a local guide familiar with local history will guide you around town according to your wishes.
『Matsumae Byobu』Hakodate City Central Library